With Dad and Albert on Hand, Caroline and Steph Play Perfectly Pacific Princesses at An N.Y.C. Gala

Okay. Gavin MacLeod was there, but the rest of the cast aboard the Crown Princess cruise ship in New York City last week were anything but Love Boat retreads. On board for the soiree that capped a weekend of fund-raising was the princely family of Monaco, playing host to the fifth Princess Grace Foundation-U.S.A. Gala. In all, some 650 guests—including Cheryl Tiegs and Margaux Hemingway—donned yachting togs to mingle with Monaco's Prince Rainier, his progeny and Mme. Claude Pompidou, France's former First Lady.

The proceeds benefited the Rainiers' favorite charity (financial grants to struggling artists) and the Paris-based Claude Pompidou Foundation (aid to the chronically ill and elderly). Although the crowd applauded cabaret performances by Tommy Tune and others, it was emcee Merv Griffin who worked hardest to keep the boat show from sinking into formality. "For the past month, everybody in this town had their designers running around saying they needed yachting attire," Merv noted. "Then they were all calling each other and asking, "What the hell is yachting attire?' " The hosts offered their thanks to the paying guests, who had anted up $1,000 to $5,000 per head, and when Mme. Pompidou conveyed hers in her native tongue, Merv volunteered to translate. "For all of you who don't speak French," he explained cheerily, "Madame Pompidou said she liked me best."